Artist: JOHN WETTON
Album: ROCK OF FAITH (CD)

Release date: 2003
Media type: CD

A former member of the supergroup Asia, Wetton co-wrote the majority of this album with his former bandmate Geoff Downes. The veteran prog-rock purveyor is joined here by Electric Light Orchestra's Hugh McDowell, IQ's Martin Orford, and Arena's John Mitchell, among others.

John Wetton's early-2003 album Rock of Faith appeared after a two-year string of concert releases. It was written at a crossroads in the singer/bassist's life, in the wake of his 50th birthday -- it was also occasioned by his extended visit to Vienna, which stimulated him artistically, and recorded in the wake of the dire world events of 2001 halfway around the globe. The ex-Family/King Crimson/Asia member rises to the occasion here, with an album evocative of his progressive rock past, yet slightly leaner and more focused than most of those efforts ever were, and supported by Geoffrey Downes (keyboards), Clive Nolan (keyboards), John Mitchell (electric guitars), and Steve Christey (drums). The music offers a compelling mix of grandeur and accessibility, not surprisingly very similar at times to Asia at their best, with sweeping, enveloping sheets of sound carrying gorgeous melodies over beautiful, keyboard-generated arrangements, all coupled with a close, emotive vocal performance by Wetton -- who is a better singer in the 21st century than he was in the 20th, in terms of what he does with his voice. The tendency, as with other albums built on outsized arrangements of this type, is to be larger-than-life, but the Japanese version (from Avalon) contains two bonus tracks, the second of which allows it to end with a curious counteractive to that effect: a live performance of Brian Wilson's classic "God Only Knows." It ought to be incongruous, but it ends the album on its most easily accessible (and totally unexpected) note, and Wetton does well by the song, too.

This CD features 11 compositions and marks the first collaboration for many years between John and Asia co-writer Geoff Downes. Other notable musicians making guest appearances include Clive Nolan (Pendragon/Arena), Hugh McDowell (E.L.O.), John Mitchell (Arena), Steve Christey (Jadis) and Martin Orford (IQ/Jadis).

TRACKLIST:

1. Mondrago (2:12)
2. Rock Of Faith (3:57)
3. A New Day (5:16)
4. I've Come To Take You Home (4:19)
5. Who Will Light A Candle? (3:39)
6. Nothing's Gonna Stand In My Way (5:36)
7. Altro Mondo (3:42)
8. I Believe In You (5:22)
9. Take Me To The Waterline (6:08)
10. I Lay Down (4:04)
11. When You Were Young (1:34)

Total Time: 45:49

LINE-UP:

- John Wetton / vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards
- Clive Nolan / keyboards, monk
- John Mitchell / electric guitars
- Steve Christey / drums
- Geoffrey Downes / virtual grand, b4

With:
- Martin Orford / flute
- Hugh McDowell / cello (4)
- Peter Gee / bass (2)
- Tim Garland / alto saxophone (6)